Silvia

This vibrant portrait celebrates Silvia Montenegro, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, household worker, and self-taught cook from Cartagena whose life has been defined by labor, resilience, and an unbreakable smile.

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Silvia embodies the strength of countless women who sustain this country from invisibility. Her laughter, luminous and disarming, becomes an act of everyday resistance, captured here in an explosion of fuchsia, neon, and textured strokes. The portrait blends hyperrealism with a bold pop-urban aesthetic, transforming her presence into both icon and symbol.

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Surrounded by graffiti, abstract textures, and illustrated details, Silvia’s individuality radiates, connecting her personal story to a broader narrative of identity, cultural richness, and collective memory. Every brushstroke pays homage to the Afro-Caribbean spirit she carries, as well as her own words: “I have always wished to travel to Mexico. I love rancheras—Vicente Fernández and Juan Gabriel are my favorites.”

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Part of the Colombian Models series by artist Silvana Pabón, this piece dignifies working women and reclaims their stories as cultural heritage. It is not only a portrait, but also a celebration of joy, resistance, and the monumental dignity of real women.